Milk testing device



Nov. 16, 1937. J. R. SHIKLES MILK TESTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1935 INVENTOR:

J'07272R. Shfliles,

ATTO FIN EY.

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrice 1 Claim.

My invention relates to testing devices whereby the sediment content in milk and other liquids may be expeditiously determined without Wasting any of said liquids.

In carrying out the invention a pump is employed for drawing the liquid from a container, forcing it through a filter, and then returning it without wastage to the container from which it was withdrawn.

The filter is preferably in the form of a strip of knitted or woven fabric held in position across ducts through which the liquid is forced by the pump, so that the sediment in the liquid will be intercepted by the filter and the amount thereof can be readily determined by inspection of the filter. By advancing the filter each time a test is made the sediment content of a large number of containers can be quickly ascertained with the use of one filter, thus making the device very useful and convenient for milk inspectors and others having occasion to use a device of this character.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the testing device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the testing device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail partly in section showing the filter strip, and means for holding it in position while a test is being made.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a tubular holder. g

Fig. 5 is a broken detail of part of the filterstrip with the collection of sediment thereon from four different tests.

In carrying out the invention I employ a pump 2 comprising a cylinder 4, a piston 8 reciprocably mounted within said cylinder 4, a rod 8 extending rearwardly from the piston 6 through a screw threaded cap l8 removably located at the rear end of a cylinder 4, and a handle l2 at the outer end of said rod. The cylinder 4 consists preferably of glass and is closed at its forward end by a cap 14 having a nipple I 6 threaded into the rear end of a stationary clamp member l8. Ihe cap i4 is removably held in place by rods l3 extending through an annulus I5 at the rear end of the cylinder 4.

The stationary clamp member I8 is provided with a nipple 20 extending at right angles thereto and connected to one end of a coupling 22, the opposite end of which is provided with an inlet tube 24 preferably of rubber or other flexible material of sufficient length to reach to the bottom of a milk can or other container from which 'of a screw 52 threaded in the cap 48.

the liquid is to be drawn for the purpose of ascertaining the sediment content thereof. The nipple 28 and the clamp member l8 have an inlet duct 26 communicating with the nipple it of the cap 14. Backward flow of the liquid through the duct 5 26 is prevented by check-valves 38 and 32, the former of which is normally held to its seat by the force of gravity when the device is in operation, while the latter is normally held to its seatby an expansible spring 34 held in place by a tubular l0 nut 36 threaded into the adjacent end of the duct 28.

The forward end of the clamp member I8 is threaded into the rear end of a tubular holder 38 closed at its forward end by a screw cap 48 and 15 adapted to hold the clamp member l8 in assembly with an adjustable clamp member 42 having a duct 44 with a lateral outlet 46 in which the inlet end of a discharge nozzle 48 is removably mounted. The outlet end of the nozzle 48 is provided with a 20 short flexible outlet tube 50 through which the liquid is returned to the container from which it wastaken. The adjustable clamp member 42 is advanced and retracted in the holder 38 by means The outer end of the screw 52 is provided with a knob 54 and its inner end is swiveled in the clamp member 42, which latter is prevented from rotating with the screw 52 by means of the discharge nozzle 48 which operates in a slot 58 in the tubular holder 38.

58 designates the filter-strip which consists preferably of knitted or woven fabric wound in a roll upon a tubular shaft 68, removably mounted upon a shaft 62 arranged axially within a cylindrical case 84 having a slot 68 through which the free end of the filter-strip may be drawn and placed between the adjacent ends of the clamp members l8 and 42. The case 64 is provided at one end with a removable cap 68 so that the roll of filter-strip 58 may be readily placed within said case. An arm 18 projecting from the screw cap 48 supports the case 64 with its slot 66 close to the forward end of the clamp member l8, so that the free end of the filter-strip 58 may be readily drawn across said forward end and be firmly secured against the same by advancing the clamp member 42 through the intermediary of the screw 52. The tubular holder 38 is provided with diametrically opposed openings 12 for the passage therethrough of the filter-strip 58.

In practice, when it is desired to test the sediment content of a can of milk or other liquid the filter-strip 58 is drawn between the adjacent ends 9 the clamp members l8 and 42 and through the openings 12 and then firmly secured against the adjacent end of the clamp member [8 by means of the adjustable clamp member 42. The inlet tube 24 is then lowered to the bottom of the container from which a portion of the liquid is then drawn by suction into the pump cylinder 4 by pulling the piston 6 outwardly. The piston 6 is then advanced on its inward stroke to force the liquid back into the container through the duct 26, the filter strip 58, the duct 44, the discharge nozzle 48 and the outlet tube 50. As the liquid is forced through the filter-strip 58 the sediment is intercepted and adheres to said filterstrip as shown by Fig. 5, so that when the filterstrip is released from the clamp members; 18 and 42 and advanced a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the tubular holder 38 the sediment upon the filter-strip may be readily inspected. A series of othertests may be had by repeating the foregoing operations until the entire filter-strip has been used.

In order that good tests may be had the adjacent ends .of the ducts 26 and 44 are enlarged asindicated at 14 and 16, respectively, so that the liquid will be forced through an area of the filter-strip almost equal'to the width thereof,

(see Fig. 5). r

The difierent parts are so assembled that they 7 may be readily taken apart and sterilized so that the device can be kept in a. thoroughly sanitary condition.

While I have shown one form of the device, I reserve all rights to such other forms and'modifications thereof as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the character described comprising a pump having an inlet and discharge opening atone end, a stationary clamp member connected to said pump and provided with an inlet nipple extending at right angles thereto, said clamp member'and nipple having a duct, extending therethrough and communicating with the inlet and discharge opening in the pump, an inlet valve in the nipple and a discharge valve in the clamp member, a movable clamp member having a discharge nozzle extending at right angles thereto and a duct communicating with said nozzle "and the discharge end of the first-mentioned duct, respective tubes depending from the nipple and the nozzle, a tubular holder connected at one end to the stationary clamp member and in which the movable clamp member ,is slidably mounted, said tubular holder having a longitudi nal slot through which the discharge nozzle projects, and an element threaded in the other end of the tubular member and adapted to adjust the movable clamp member longitudinally and thereby clamp or release a filter strip extending between the clamp members.

JOHN RAPP SHIKLES. 

